Photo Journal: Pricey panda

A gold panda figure created by precious metal supplier Tokuriki Honten Co. to commemorate the first birthday of Ueno Zoological Gardens' giant panda cub Xiang Xiang is seen in this recent photo in Tokyo's Taito Ward. The monument will be up for sale from June 22, 2018, for a hefty 20.18 million yen (about $182,500). The supplier created the character in partnership with the Ueno Kanko Renmei tourism association, which consists of shops around Ueno Station. The gold panda is about 20 centimeters high and weighs around 1 kilogram. A craftsperson designed it by hammering a gold bar, about 60 to 70 centimeters in diameter, over a period of about three months. The gold panda is on display on weekdays. For inquiries, call the shop on 03-3258-5500 (in Japanese). (Mainichi)